THE leader of Hampshire County Council has pledged to fund frontline child protection and adult social care despite the harshest Government spending cuts for years.

Central grants for local authorities are to be reduced by 26 per cent by 2014-15.

County chiefs estimate that the total cut could be 33 per cent when individual grants are totted up.

The final figure will not be known until late November or early December.

The cut in the non-schools budget of the Department of education would hit child protection services while the schools budget is ringfenced.

The council is planning to shed more than 900 staff through retirements, voluntary departures and a jobs freeze but council chiefs will recruit social workers and care assistants, although not youth workers.

Council leader Councillor Ken Thornber said: “None of us want to get into a Baby P situation. We really cannot justify a reduction. I regard it as critical as ringfencing of education.”

Baby Peter died in Haringey after he suffered appalling abuse at the hands of his mother, her boyfriend and a lodger.

Cllr Thornber said that Hampshire’s share of the extra £2 billion for adult social care, estimated at £4.45m, together with an increase in fees, should help to cope with the growing number of elderly people.

He added that there will be a council tax freeze next year with the help of £12.5m Government grant, equal to a 2.5 per cent rise.